Server for Providing Television and System and Method for Use of Same

ABSTRACT

A sever for providing television and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the server includes a network interface controller that is configured to receive a source internet protocol television signal, which includes two channels, from an external source and at least partially prepare the source internet protocol signal in order to forward the signal to a television. The server saves in a buffer the at least partially prepared second channel beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point. In response to receiving a channel request instruction from a requesting television when the server is forwarding the at least partially prepared first channel signal, the server forwards the at least partially prepared signal based on the second channel stored in the buffer beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point.

PRIORITY STATEMENT & CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Application Ser. No.62/416,772, entitled “Server for Providing Television and System andMethod for Use of Same” and filed on Nov. 3, 2016, in the names ofRaymond S. Horton et al. This application is also a continuation-in-partof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,681, entitled “Set-Top Boxfor Changing Channels and System and Method for Use of Same,” and filedon Sep. 30, 2016, in the names of Raymond S. Horton et al.; which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/811,585, entitled“Set-Top Box for Changing Channels and System and Method for Use ofSame” and filed on Jul. 28, 2015, in the names of Raymond S. Horton etal.; which claims priority from U.S. Patent Application No. 62/029,781,entitled “Set-Top Box for Changing Channels and System and Method forUse of Same” and filed on Jul. 28, 2014, in the name of Vanessa Ogle;all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to servers for providing televisionand, in particular, to servers for providing television and systems andmethods for use of the same that address the total duration of time froma channel change button being pressed to the new channel beingdisplayed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the background willbe described in relation to televisions in the hospitality lodgingindustry, as an example. “Zap time” is the total duration of time from atelevision viewer pressing the channel change button, to the picture ofthe new channel being displayed with full resolution, along withcorresponding audio. Zap time delays exist in all television systems,due to network factors, acquisition factors and buffering/decoding, forexample. Zap time is greater in digital televisions, however, which arevery common in hotels and other hospitality lodging establishments. As aresult of limitations in existing technology, zap time is a frequentcomplaint and source of aggravation by guests staying in hospitalitylodging establishments. Accordingly, there is a need for improvedsystems and methods for mitigating zap time delays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be advantageous to reduce zap time in hospitality lodgingestablishments as well as any television viewing environment. It wouldalso be desirable to enable a computer-based solution that wouldmitigate tuning-related factors, such as buffering and decryptiondelays. To better address one or more of these concerns, a server forproviding television and system and method for use of the same aredisclosed. In one embodiment of the server, the server includes anetwork interface controller that is configured to receive a sourceinternet protocol television signal, which includes two channels, froman external source and at least partially prepare the source internetprotocol signal in order to forward the signal to a television. Theserver saves in a buffer the at least partially prepared second channelbeginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point. Inresponse to receiving a channel request instruction from a requestingtelevision when the server is forwarding the at least partially preparedfirst channel signal, the server forwards the at least partiallyprepared signal based on the second channel stored in the bufferbeginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point. Theseand other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidatedwith reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent invention, reference is now made to the detailed description ofthe invention along with the accompanying figures in which correspondingnumerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a system forchanging channels on a television according to the teachings presentedherein;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of the system ofFIG. 1 deployed in a co-located arrangement;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of the system ofFIG. 1 deployed in a remote arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of theserver presented in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of achannel change operation, prior to the channel change;

FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram depicting the channel changeoperation presented in FIG. 4A, at the channel change;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of thesignal processing and storage allocation accompanying the changeoperation presented in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a method for changingchannels according to the teachings presented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts, whichcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the presentinvention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, therein is depicted one embodiment ofsystem for changing channels, which is schematically illustrated anddesignated 10. As shown, the system 10 includes a server 12 and adisplay illustrated as television 14 having a screen 16. A set-top box20 is depicted as being interposed between the server 12 and thetelevision 14. The set-top box 20 includes an HDMI connection 22, apower cable 24 coupling the set-top box 12 to a power source, a coaxialcable 26 coupling the set-top box 20 to external cable source, and acategory five (Cat 5) cable 28 coupling the set-top box 20 to anexternal source that is a source, such as the server 20, of internetprotocol television signal.

A television remote control 30 includes an array of buttons 32 foradjusting various settings such as television channel and volume. Amongthe array of buttons 32, the television remote control 30 is depicted asincluding channel change buttons 34, up channel change button 36, and adown channel change button 38. In one embodiment, the television remotecontrol 30 may be a consumer infrared (IR) or other protocol, such asBluetooth device configured as a small wireless handheld object thatissues commands from a distance to the set-top box 20 in order tocontrol the television 14 via the set-top box 20, for example. It shouldbe appreciated that although a set-top box 20 is depicted in FIG. 1, theteachings presented herein are applicable to instances without set-topboxes and the server 12 may have a more direct connection with thetelevision 14.

In one implementation, as illustrated, channel 403, as indicated by C2,is broadcasting a program, as indicated by T1, and this program T1 is onthe screen 16 of the television 14. A user presses the up channel changebutton 36 on the television remote control 30 and a signal S, whichincludes instructions for the channel C2 to be changed one channelupward, is transmitted from the television remote control 30 to theset-top box 20 and onto the server 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the channelis changed from channel 403 to channel 404, as indicated by C3, withprogram T2. The channel change occurs in substantially real time withzap time being mitigated, as will be discussed in further detailhereinbelow. In one embodiment, the server 12 provides two-waycommunications with an internet protocol network to buffer and decodevideo streaming media received on the internet protocol televisionsignal so that zap time is mitigated.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, the system 10 may be deployed such that theserver 12 is co-located on the property P with the televisions 14-1 . .. 14-n and the corresponding set-top boxes 20-1 . . . 20-n, with, in oneembodiment, internet protocol television sources 50 providing sources ofcontent. As shown, the server 12 includes a housing 54 having aninternet protocol television output and other components therein.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the system 10 may be deployed such that the server12 is located remotely relative to televisions 14-1 . . . 14-n. Inparticular, the sever 12 may be located remotely relative to thetelevisions 14-1 . . . 14-n and any set-top boxes 20-1 . . . 20-n suchthat a property headend 52 is interposed between the server 12 and thetelevisions 14-1 . . . 14-n. As shown, in this implementation, theproperty headend 52 is co-located with the televisions 14-1 . . . 14-n.It should be appreciated that the server 12 may be located on a singleproperty to serve one or more television thereon. Further, it should beappreciated that the server 12 may be remotely located to serve multipleproperties having multiple televisions.

One embodiment of the server 24 as a computing device includes aprocessor 130, memory 132, storage 134, inputs 133, and outputs 135interconnected with various buses 136 in a common or distributed, forexample, mounting architecture. In other implementations, in thecomputing device, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used,as appropriate, along with multiple memories and types of memory.Further still, in other implementations, multiple computing devices maybe provided and operations distributed therebetween. The processor 130may process instructions for execution within the server 12, includinginstructions stored in the memory 132 or in storage 134. The memory 132stores information within the computing device. In one implementation,the memory 132 is a volatile memory unit or units. In anotherimplementation, the memory 132 is a non-volatile memory unit or units.Storage 134 includes capacity that is capable of providing mass storagefor the server 12. Various inputs 133 and outputs 135 provideconnections to and from the server 12, wherein the inputs 133 are thesignals or data received by the server 12, and the outputs 135 are thesignals or data sent from the server 12.

An internet protocol television input 137 is coupled to a networkinterface controller 138 and a television output 139 is also securedwith the housing 50 of the server 12 in order to receive content from asource and forward the content, including external content such video ondemand, live programming content, and pre-buffered content, to one ormore televisions located within a hotel room or one or more televisionlocated in multiple hotel rooms, for example. More specifically, thenetwork interface controller 138 receives a source internet protocoltelevision signal from an external source. The source signal includesmultiple channels and each of the multiple channels has periodic,sequential signal access points that permit tuning initiation. Thenetwork interface controller 138 is configured to receive and tunemultiple channels from the source internet protocol television signal.As shown, the network interface controller 138 includes network trafficprocessing 140, interrupts/interfaces 142 and receivingtransmission/queues 144. The network controller interface 138 implementsthe electronic circuitry required to communicate using a specificphysical layer and data link layer standard. This provides a base for afull network protocol stack with network traffic processingcapabilities, allowing communication with computers or servers on alocal area network or large-scale network communications throughroutable protocols, such as Internet Protocol (IP). The networkinterface controller may enable communication, either by using cables orwirelessly.

A content buffer 146 associated with a decryption device 148 and adecoder 150 is also included in order to provide at least a partiallyprepared channel. The contact buffer 146 stores the signal and may beindependent storage or associated with or form a portion of the memory132 or storage 134. In one embodiment, the content buffer 146 may be afirst-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer, having one per tuner, in the memory.The content buffer 146 may hold at least one access point for theincurring signal streams when the buffer is assigned to the correctviewing channel, the processor may quickly jump to the access point inthe buffer and start the content decryption and decoding process. Thedecryption device 148 then decrypts the demodulated signal beforedecoding at the decoder 150. It should be appreciated that although aparticular architecture of network interface controller 138, decryptiondevice and decoder is depicted, other architectures are within theteachings presented herein.

The memory 132 and storage 134 are accessible to the processor 130 andinclude processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor 130 to execute a series of operations. In one embodiment, theprocessor-executable instructions dynamically assign each of thereceiving queues (e.g., receiving queue-1 through receiving queue-n) toone of channels. An associated content buffer 146 (e.g., contentbuffer-1 through content-buffer-n) may likewise also be assigned to oneof the channels. The processor-executable instructions provide two-waycommunications with the internet protocol network communicating with thenetwork interface controller 138 and decode the video streaming mediareceived on the internet protocol television signal. Theprocessor-executable instructions buffer in the content buffer 146 theat least partially prepared second channel signal and track in thecontent buffer 146 the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point. Inresponse to receiving a channel change instruction, the buffer isaccessed to the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point. Theprocessor-executable instructions then transform the partially preparedsecond channel signal to a at least partially processed second channelsignal, which may be a fully prepared second channel signal, andforward, via the television output, the partially processed secondchannel signal. Transforming or processing the at least partiallyprepared channel to be at least partially processed channel, including afully tuned channel, may involve use of the decryption device 148 andthe decoder 150, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, wherein one embodiment of a channelchange operation is depicted in additional detail. As shown, in FIG. 4A,channel assignments 154 are made for each receiving queue 144 associatedwith the network interface controller 138, including NIC-RQ1 (144-1),NIC-RQ2 (144-2), NIC-RQ3 (144-3), through NIC-RQn (144-n). Morespecifically, the receiving queues 144-1 through 144-n are assignedchannels 402, 403, 404, and 520, respectively. It should be appreciatedthat the number of channels m may be much greater than the number ofreceiving queues n, such that m>>n. Further, each receiving queue 144 isassigned a buffer portion 146-1, 146-2, 146-3, through 146-n, of contentbuffer 146. As each tuner receives a channel of the source signal, thechannel is at least partially tuned and stored at the respective bufferportion. By way of example, receiving queue-1 is tuned to channel 402and partially prepares this channel and stores the at least partiallyprepared channel in buffer portion 1.

As depicted, the television 14 is presently configured for viewingchannel 403. At FIG. 4B, the channel is changed from “403” to “404” and,accordingly, the at least partially prepared channel at the bufferportion associated with tuner 3, which is assigned to channel 404 isaccessed. The signal is then at least partially prepared or fullyprepared and provided to the television 14. By having the channelalready partially prepared, the zap time or delay associated withchanging channels is minimized.

Referring now to FIG. 5, wherein one embodiment of the signal processingand storage allocation accompanying the change operation presented inFIG. 4A and FIG. 4B is further illustrated. A signal 160, whichcorresponds to channel 404, is receivable by the set-top box and, asshown, begins at time t₀ and continues to time t_(n). As illustrated,receiving queue 3 receives signal 160 beginning at time t₄ upon thetelevision tuning capability being turned ON at the set-top box ortelevision, for example. Periodic, sequential signal access points arepositioned within the signal 160 at various times, including t₂, t₈,t₁₄, t₂₀, t₂₆, t₃₂, and continuing with the spacing of 6 secondincrements between sequential signal access points. As alluded, each ofthe periodic, sequential signal access points provides a location atwhich processing and preparation of the signal may begin. Processing andpreparation may include receiving, buffering, decryption, and decoding,for example.

With respect to the signal 160, beginning at time to with the sequentialsignal access point thereat, the set-top box buffers in the bufferportion 3 the at least partially tuned channel 160 as signal portion 162in the buffer portion 3. As shown, in one embodiment, the buffering ofthe signals occurs in a first-in-first-out (FIFO) manner. As previouslydiscussed, buffer portion 3 continues to keep signal portions, includingtacking and identification thereof, beginning at periodic, sequentialsignal access points until the channel 404 is selected for viewing. Byway of example, buffer portion 3 stores a signal portion 164 beginningat time t₁₄ and continuing until time t₁₉. Further, signal portion 166is stored in buffer portion 3 beginning with the sequential signalaccess point at time t₂₀ and preliminary preparation performed on thesignal portion 166.

The set-top box tracks in the storage and buffering the at leastpartially prepared channel 160 beginning at a recent periodic,sequential signal access point, such as periodic sequential signalaccess points t₈, t₁₄, and t₂₀, with the periodic sequential signalaccess point t₂₀ being the recent periodic sequential signal accesspoint upon the set-top box receiving a signal to tune-in to the channelrepresented by the signal 160 at time t₂₄. At time t₂₄, the set-top boxin response to receiving a channel change instruction, accesses from thebuffer portion 3 the at least partially tuned channel 160 beginning atthe recent periodic, sequential signal access point at time t₂₀.Thereafter, the set-top box transforms the partially tuned channel 160to a partially processed channel signal, which may be a fully tunedchannel signal, and forwards, via the television output, the at leastpartially processed channel signal to the television.

That is, in the illustrated embodiment, at time t₂₄ the set-top box istuned-in to channel 404. Thereafter, the set-top box accesses the signalportion 166 stored in buffer portion 3 that the set-top box wastracking. At the time t₂₄, the set-top box retrieves the partiallyprepared signal at time t₂₀ in the buffer portion 3 and may thencomplete the tuning. The set-top box then forwards the partiallyprocessed signal, which may include a fully prepared signal, beginningat time t₂₀ to the display or television. The set-top box continues toreceive and perform a preliminary signal preparation on the signal 160,with storage and buffering of signal portion 166. Further, the set-topbox continues to retrieve, perform a secondary signal preparation on thesignal portion, and forward the fully prepared signal through time t₄₂,which corresponds to time t₃₈ in the signal portion 166. At time t₄₂,channel 404 is tuned-out, due to a channel change or other event, asindicated by line 176.

As shown, at time t₄₃, the buffer portion is assigned to channel 406 andsignal 168 is received. Within the signal 168, signal access points areat times t₄₃, t₄₇, t₅₃, t₅₉ and so on. Accordingly, signal portions 170,172, and 174 are sequentially stored, buffered, and preliminary preparedat signal portion 3 in preparation for channel 406 being accessed forviewing by the set-top box. It should be appreciated that although onlya single buffer portion is depicted in FIG. 5, multiple buffer portionsare within the teachings presented herein and the assignment of channelsto the buffer portions may be based various schemes, including storingand pre-preparing the channel corresponding to the “channel-up” button,the “channel-down” button, a channel two “channel-up” button executionsaway, or a frequently viewed channel, by way of example.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method for changing channelsaccording to the teachings presented herein. At block 200, channelassignments are made to buffer portions of the set-top box. Continuingthe description of the methodology with respect to a single channelassignment made to a buffer portion of the set-top box, at block 202,the set-top box receives a signal that is assigned for storage andbuffer per block 200. At this step, some preparation or processing mayoccur as well. At decision block 204, if the portion of the signalreceived is not a signal access point, then at block 206, the signal isdiscarded and the methodology returns to block 202. On the other hand,if the portion of the signal received includes a signal access point,then the methodology advances to block 208 where initial signalpreparation, including primary preparation of the signal may occur. Inone implementation, the primary preparation may include a portion ofreceiving, demodulation, decryption, and decoding. Following the primarypreparation, the portion of the signal is buffered in the storage atblock 210.

At decision block 212, if the channel is not selected for viewing on thetelevision or display associated with the set-top box, then themethodology advances to decision block 214, where if the storage portionis assigned a new channel, the method returns to block 200. Otherwise,if the storage has not been reassigned a channel, the methodologyadvances to block 216 where additional signal is received and, if thesignal is a signal access point, as shown at decision block 218, then atblock 220, the previously stored signal portion associated with thepreviously most recent signal access point is subject to an overwriteprior to the methodology returning to block 208 to conduct a primarytuning on the signal access point prior to storage.

Returning to decision block 218, if the signal portion received is not asignal access point, then the methodology returns to blocks 208 and 210to execute primary preparation on the signal portion and store the newlyreceived signal portion with previously received the signal portion orportions associated with the recent signal access point.

Returning to decision block 212, if the channel is selected for displayon the television associated with the set-top box, then the methodologyadvances to two processes conducted in parallel. First, at block 224,the signal is retrieved from buffering so that signal preparation may becompleted, including secondary preparation occurring at block 226following by forwarding of the signal to the television or display atblock 228. In one implementation, the secondary preparation may includethe portion of receiving, demodulation, decryption, and decoding notperformed during the primary tuning. By retrieving utilizing a partiallyprepared signal to complete tuning, delays associated with zap time aremitigated. In one embodiment, receiving queues and content buffers notused by the viewing channels are fully prepared and receivingdemodulated video and audio streamed. The processor continuously tracksthe location of each access point in each buffer. In thisimplementation, decryption does not occur until the content buffer isassigned as the viewing channel.

In parallel to the operations in blocks 224, 226, and 228, at blocks230, 232, and 234, a signal is received, primary signal preparationoccurs, and the signal is buffered. Following the operations in blocks224-228 and blocks 230-234, the methodology advances to decision block236, where if the channel remains selected, the methodology returns toblocks 224-228 and blocks 230-234. Otherwise, the methodology returns tothe channel assignment at block 200.

The order of execution or performance of the methods and data flowsillustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwisespecified. That is, elements of the methods and data flows may beperformed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and that the methodsmay include more or less elements than those disclosed herein. Forexample, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particularelement before, contemporaneously with, or after another element are allpossible sequences of execution.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claimsencompass any such modifications or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server for providing television comprising: ahousing securing an internet protocol television output, a processor,memory, buffer, and a network interface controller therein; a busingarchitecture communicatively interconnecting the internet protocoltelevision output, the processor, the memory, the buffer, and thenetwork interface controller therebetween; the network interfacecontroller configured to receive a source internet protocol televisionsignal from an external source, the source internet protocol televisionsignal including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality ofchannels having periodic, sequential signal access points that permittuning initiation; the internet protocol television output disposed incommunication with a plurality of televisions, the internet protocoltelevision output configured to forward at least a partially processedsignal toward one of the plurality of televisions; the network interfacecontroller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a firstchannel from the source internet protocol television signal, the networkinterface controller providing an at least partially prepared firstchannel signal; the network interface controller configured to receiveand at least partially prepare a second channel from the source internetprotocol television signal, the network interface controller providingan at least partially prepared second channel signal; and the memoryaccessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executableinstructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: buffer in thebuffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal, track inthe buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point, inresponse to receiving a channel request instruction from a requestingtelevision of the plurality of televisions, access from the buffer theat least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at therecent periodic, sequential signal access point, transform the partiallyprepared second channel signal to the at least partially processedsecond channel signal, and forward, via the television output, the atleast partially processed second channel signal toward the requestingtelevision of the plurality of televisions.
 2. The server as recited inclaim 1, wherein the internet protocol television output is co-locatedon a property with the plurality of televisions.
 3. The server asrecited in claim 1, wherein the internet protocol television output islocated remotely relative to the plurality of televisions.
 4. The serveras recited in claim 1, wherein the internet protocol television outputis located remotely relative to the plurality of televisions, wherein aproperty headend is interposed between the internet protocol televisionoutput and the plurality of televisions and the property headend isco-located with the plurality of televisions.
 5. The server as recitedin claim 1, wherein the at least partially prepared second channelsignal comprises a fully prepared second channel signal.
 6. The serveras recited in claim 1, wherein the at least partially processed secondchannel signal comprises a fully prepared second channel signal.
 7. Thesever as recited in claim 1, wherein the network interface controllerfurther comprises circuitry providing a full network protocol stack withnetwork traffic processing capabilities.
 8. The server as recited inclaim 1, wherein the internet protocol television signal furthercomprises an internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network. 9.The server as recited in claim 1, wherein the first channel comprisesmedia selected from the group consisting of video on demand, liveprogramming content, pre-buffered content.
 10. The server as recited inclaim 1, wherein the network interface controller is dynamicallyassigned a channel.
 11. The server as recited in claim 1, wherein thenetwork interface controller is assigned a channel frequently tuned. 12.The server as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executableinstructions to track in the buffer the at least partially preparedsecond channel beginning at the recent, periodic, sequential signalaccess point further comprising causing the processor to track in thebuffer the at least partially prepared second channel beginning at themost recent sequential signal access point.
 13. The server as recited inclaim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions to track in thebuffer the at least partially prepared second channel beginning at therecent, periodic, sequential signal access point further comprisescausing the processor to: track in the buffer the at least partiallyprepared second channel beginning at a first periodic, sequential signalaccess point; and track in the buffer the at least partially preparedsecond channel beginning at a second periodic, sequential signal accesspoint, the second periodic, sequential signal access point beingsubsequent in time to the first periodic, sequential signal accesspoint.
 14. The server as recited in claim 1, wherein theprocessor-executable instructions to track in the buffer the at leastpartially prepared second channel beginning at the recent, periodic,sequential signal access point further comprises causing the processorto: make available for deletion the portion of the buffered at leastpartially prepared second channel in the buffer previous to the mostrecent periodic, sequential signal access point.
 15. The server asrecited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions totrack in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channelbeginning at the recent, periodic, sequential signal access pointfurther comprises causing the processor to: make available forover-write the portion of the buffered at least partially preparedsecond channel in the buffer previous to the most recent periodic,sequential signal access point.
 16. A server for providing televisioncomprising: a housing securing an internet protocol television output, aprocessor, memory, buffer, and a network interface controller therein; abusing architecture communicatively interconnecting the internetprotocol television output, the processor, the memory, the buffer, andthe network interface controller therebetween; the network interfacecontroller configured to receive a source internet protocol televisionsignal from an external source, the source internet protocol televisionsignal including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality ofchannels having periodic, sequential signal access points that permittuning initiation; the internet protocol television signal including aninternet protocol suite over a packet-switched network; the networkinterface controller including circuitry providing a full networkprotocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities; theinternet protocol television output disposed in communication with aplurality of televisions, the internet protocol television outputconfigured to forward at least a partially processed signal toward oneof the plurality of televisions; the network interface controllerconfigured to receive and at least partially prepare a first channelfrom the source internet protocol television signal, the networkinterface controller providing an at least partially prepared firstchannel signal; the network interface controller configured to receiveand at least partially prepare a second channel from the source internetprotocol television signal, the network interface controller providingan at least partially prepared second channel signal; and the memoryaccessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executableinstructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: buffer in thebuffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal, track inthe buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point, inresponse to receiving a channel request instruction from a requestingtelevision of the plurality of televisions, access from the buffer theat least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at therecent periodic, sequential signal access point, transform the partiallyprepared second channel signal to the at least partially processedsecond channel signal, and forward, via the television output, the atleast partially processed second channel signal toward the requestingtelevision of the plurality of televisions.
 17. The server as recited inclaim 16, wherein the internet protocol television output is co-locatedon a property with the plurality of televisions.
 18. The server asrecited in claim 16, wherein the internet protocol television output islocated remotely relative to the plurality of televisions.
 19. A serverfor providing television comprising: a housing securing an internetprotocol television output, a processor, memory, buffer, and a networkinterface controller therein; a busing architecture communicativelyinterconnecting the internet protocol television output, the processor,the memory, the buffer, and the network interface controllertherebetween; the network interface controller configured to receive asource internet protocol television signal from an external source asvideo streaming media, the source internet protocol television signalincluding a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channelshaving periodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuninginitiation; the internet protocol television signal including aninternet protocol suite over a packet-switched network; the networkinterface controller including circuitry providing a full networkprotocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities; theinternet protocol television output disposed in communication with aplurality of televisions, the internet protocol television outputconfigured to forward at least a partially processed signal toward oneof the plurality of televisions; the network interface controllerconfigured to receive and at least partially prepare a first channelfrom the source internet protocol television signal, the networkinterface controller providing an at least partially prepared firstchannel signal; the network interface controller configured to receiveand at least partially prepare a second channel from the source internetprotocol television signal, the network interface controller providingan at least partially prepared second channel signal; and the memoryaccessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executableinstructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: providetwo-way communications with an internet protocol network communicatingwith the network interface controller, decode the video streaming mediareceived on the internet protocol television signal, buffer in thebuffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal, track inthe buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point, inresponse to receiving a channel request instruction from a requestingtelevision of the plurality of televisions, access from the buffer theat least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at therecent periodic, sequential signal access point, transform the partiallyprepared second channel signal to the at least partially processedsecond channel signal, and forward, via the television output, the atleast partially processed second channel signal toward the requestingtelevision of the plurality of televisions.
 20. The server as recited inclaim 19, wherein the video streaming media comprises a selection fromthe group consisting of video on demand, live programming content, andpre-buffered content.